Number of striking workers reaches 100,000: Union

Ean Vichara (R) stands with her colleagues Hun Try (C) and Pov Nub during a strike at the Chinese-owned Pine Great Cambodia Garment Co. Ltd. in Phnom Penh September 13, 2010. Cambodian labour activist Moeun Tola blames the Gap Inc, Nike Inc and other big Western brands for sinking Cambodian workers in low wages. Moeun Tola and thousands of Cambodian garment workers began a five-day walkout on Monday to demand better wages and benefits, a sign recent labour unrest in China may be spreading to factories elsewhere in Asia that supply the world with low-cost goods. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea

14 Sept 2010
By Pech Bandol
Free Press Magazine Online
Translated from Khmer by Ko Theak
Click here to read the article in Khmer

Ath Thun, President of the Cambodian Labor Confederation, told reporters on Tuesday morning that, at least 50 factories in Cambodia are facing strike and that the total number of workers who walked out of their jobs reaches about 100,000.

Ath Thun said that there will be additional workers who will strike in other factories because they understand the aim of this strike.

The strike which started on 13 September is aimed at demanding for a wage raise to provide a decent salary for the workers, i.e. between $75 and $93 per month. The demand is counter current to the decision issued by the labor council which set the minimum wage to $61 per month in July of this year.

Nevertheless, the strike was not joined by Chea Mony’s Free Trade Union of Workers in the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUWKC). Chea Mony claimed that he already sent the request to the Garment Manufacturers Association of Cambodia (GMAC) to ask for a resolution on the workers’ demand. Nevertheless, the FTUWKC leader, who in the past led intense strikes and demonstrations, did not prevent workers from his union from joining the current strike.

Ean Vichara (R) stands with her colleagues Hun Try (C) and Pov Nub during a strike at the Chinese-owned Pine Great Cambodia Garment Co. Ltd. in Phnom Penh September 13, 2010. Cambodian labour activist Moeun Tola blames the Gap Inc, Nike Inc and other big Western brands for sinking Cambodian workers in low wages. Moeun Tola and thousands of Cambodian garment workers began a five-day walkout on Monday to demand better wages and benefits, a sign recent labour unrest in China may be spreading to factories elsewhere in Asia that supply the world with low-cost goods. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea 14 Sept 2010 By Pech Bandol Free Press Magazine Online Translated from Khmer by Ko Theak Click here to read the article in Khmer Ath Thun, President of the Cambodian Labor Confederation, told reporters on Tuesday morning that, at least 50 factories in Cambodia are facing strike and that the total number of workers who walked out of their jobs reaches about 100,000. Ath Thun said that there will be additional workers who will strike in other factories because they understand the aim of this strike. The strike which started on 13 September is aimed at demanding for a wage raise to provide a decent salary for the workers, i.e. between $75 and $93 per month. The demand is counter current to the decision issued by the labor council which set the minimum wage to $61 per month in July of this year. Nevertheless, the strike was not joined by Chea Mony’s Free Trade Union of Workers in the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUWKC). Chea Mony claimed that he already sent the request to the Garment Manufacturers Association of Cambodia (GMAC) to ask for a resolution on the workers’ demand. Nevertheless, the FTUWKC leader, who in the past led intense strikes and demonstrations, did not prevent workers from his union from joining the current strike.